1820 Settler Correspondence before emigration

ALL the 1819 correspondence from CO48/41 through CO48/46 has been transcribed whether or not the writers emigrated to the Cape. Those written by people who did become settlers, as listed in "The Settler Handbook" by M.D. Nash (Chameleon Press 1987), are labelled 1820 Settler and the names of actual settlers in the text appear in red.

ROWCROFT, Thomas re James WILMOT, 1820 Settler

Written by Sue Mackay.

National Archives, Kew CO48/46, 976

Lombard Street

1 Oct 1819

Mr. ROWCROFT presents respectful compliments to The Honourable Mr. Wm. BATHURST. Mr. R has no knowledge of the applicant Mr. James WILMOT for the Colony in South Africa but thinks he may depend on the description given of him in the letter herewith & that the certification may be useful to the selection desired

[attached]

National Archives, Kew CO48/46, 974

[To Thomas ROWCROFT MP]

160 Piccadilly

30th September 1819

Sir,

The kindness with which you treated my former application to you induces me to solicit a favor which although of a different nature is still of great interest to me.

I have a friend (Mr. James WILMOT) who wishes to avail himself of the advantages held forth by Government in the establishment of a colony in the Cape of Good Hope. He has sent in his name &c agreeably to the form prescribed but as the number of applicants greatly exceeds the present limits of the intended colony he is particularly anxious to be named in the list of those first permitted to sail.

Mr. James WILMOT purposes taking out his brother and nine agriculturalists and being a person of great respectability and good property will have a better chance of success that many who desire to join the expedition as it will be his pride to conform in every respect to the will of the Government, he conceives that a favorable mention of him may secure the early nomination which is of so much consequence.

Permit me then Sir to hope that if it be in your power you will promote the wishes of my friend which will be conferring a great obligation o Sir